OAMARU NEWS NOTES.

(Fnoi£ Oub Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, January 5. The residents of Malieno on Sunday last unveiled a monument which they have erected to the late Trooper Jlarcks, who died at Wellington in August last, after he had landed in his native colony from South Africa. Deceased, who was a member of the Eighth Contingent, contracted a disease on the transport ship, from which ho died a few days after. Ho was interred in the Maheno Cemetery, where his many friends of Mahenn and Kakanui have raised a handsome marble pillar to perpetuate their memory of one who, ae Major Nichols said, was deservedly held in high esteem. The act of drawing aside the Union Jack with which tho monument was covered was performed by Major Nicliola, who briefly explained the feeling of deceased's many friends, and the Rev. H. J. Davis, of Hampdcn, dedicated the memorial to Hie memory of the deceased. Tho inscription on the monument is simply this:—"Erected by residents of Maheno in memory of Trooper Louis Marcks, Eighth N.Z. Contingent, who died 10th August, 1902; aged 21 years. At rest." A team of slioofists representing the Bluff Guards visited Oamaru during the holidays and mrcfc a team from the Oamaru Rifl&3 at the Sandy Beach range. The conditions wore 10 men a side, 10 shots each, and one sighter at 500 yds. Owing to a tricky wind tho scores put up were not very high, The total score put up by Oainaru was 275, towards which Corporal Duncan contributed 44-', Colour-sergeant Applcby 3&, Private Bennett 35, and Private Davidson 34. The Bluff Guards' total was 202, the principal scorers being Private Harden 38, Private Hoffmein 35, Private Gavin 33 Private Hottin 31, and Corporal AYixen 29, Oamaru therefore won by 73.